Fred Vagts 1852-1936

VAGTS, SCHATZ, GROSS, LAUER, STEFFENS

Posted By: Dorothy (email)
Date: 1/18/2009 at 14:48:57

Fred Vagts, 84, died at 11 a. m.
Tuesday at his home in Eldorado,
after years of illness, during most
of which time he had been bedfast,
a strong constitution keeping
the spark of life in his body for
an almost incredible length of
time.
Mr. Vagts suffered an accident
July 4, 1931, the limb of a tree
striking his right eye and causing
the loss of his sight, followed by
the necessity for the removal of
the eyeball. This injury caused a
general decline in his health, and
he has been a sufferer ever since.
In March, 1933, his troubles were
further intensified by a fall in
which a hip was broken.
Born in Germany Feb. 14, 1852,
Mr. Vagts came to America alone
as a youth of seventeen years, and
remained here ever since in the
same neighborhood, except for a
brief trip to the fatherland in his
early manhood. None of his family
ever came to America, so he has
spent almost all his entire life away
from all of his blood except his own
children. All his brothers and sisters
in Germany died before him.
Mr. Vagts was married fifty-five years
ago to Rosina Schatz. The widow and
their six children are all living, and all
in the Eldoado community; Mrs. H. W.
Gross, Mrs. W. P. Lauer, Fritz Vagts,
Mrs. Ed Steffens, Ewald Vagts and
Lawrence Vagts. The three sons all
live on the old home farm just south
of Eldorado, but in three different
homes .. Lawrence in the old family
home, Fritz a little distance east and
Eward at the edge of the village.
Coming here in youth, Mr. Vagts
worked for several years for the late
Philip Lauer, sr., then when he
married he bought the place at the foot
of the Eldorado hill which was the
home of himself and wife til they
retired to Eldorado eight years ago.
He was an extensive farmer and
stockman, especially a breeder of
pedigreed swine. Though he was
scrupulously fair and generous to all
with whom he dealt, he had the
facility of prospering at all times and
built up a large landed estate.
A devout Lutheran, Mr. Vagts
maintained a high standard of religious
conduct in daily life and in his dealings.
He was a constant student of the Bible,
strict in his attention to religious
observances and animated by a sincere
and benevolent purpose.
The funeral was conducted from St. Peter's
Lutheran church, Eldorado by the new
pastor, the Rev. William F. Foege at 2 pm
Thursday. --- Argo Gazette

Oelwein Daily Register - 31 Jan 1936